Human psychology is the real MVP behind your money decisions—and in this solo episode, Madison pulls back the curtain on why you spend the way you do, especially heading into Black Friday and the holidays. She breaks down how your brain is wired for survival (not success), why dopamine has you chasing “add to cart” highs, and how powerful cognitive biases quietly run the show with your finances. If you’re stuck in cycles of overspending, FOMO purchases, or lifestyle creep, this episode will help you finally see the patterns, call yourself out with compassion, and start making money decisions that actually support your long-term goals—not just your instant gratification. Madison also shares how this exact psychology-of-spending work helped a Debt Ditcher Academy student shift her habits and pay off credit card debt in just three weeks, and how you can start creating your own version of that transformation.   What You’ll Learn How your brain’s #1 job (survival) secretly fights against financial change and keeps you in the “comfortable known” The fight / flight / freeze / fawn responses and how each one can show up in your money behaviors Why your brain is addicted to dopamine and how that explains online shopping, lifestyle creep, and the constant urge for “more” The difference between instant gratification and delayed gratification—and why building wealth requires thinking in decades, not days The “hedonic treadmill” and how what once felt like a luxury slowly becomes your new normal (and more expensive baseline) Key money-related cognitive biases How to start calling yourself out (lovingly), create awareness around your spending triggers, and step into the driver’s seat of your financial life   This Episode Is For You If… You’re heading into Black Friday / holiday season and want to avoid mindless spending and regretful “add to cart” moments. You feel stuck in the same money cycles—debt, overspending, financial avoidance—even though you know better. You’ve ever bought something mainly because it was “on sale” or because everyone else seemed to have it. You notice FOMO, comparison, or “keeping up” energy driving your purchases more than your actual values. You’re curious about mindset work but want to understand the science and psychology behind your financial habits. You’re ready to build wealth, not just get out of debt—and you know that means changing how you think, not just what you budget.   Connect with Madison 📲 DM @newmoneymadison with your money move of the week. ✨ Ready to transform your money mindset? Apply for 1:1 coaching at madisonaldini.com. 🔁 Loved this episode? Share it with a friend who needs a simple, non-scary intro to investing! 💬 Interested in going deeper and rewiring your money identity? Ask Madison about the next cohort of Debt Ditcher Academy and how it can support your journey from debt to building real wealth. 📖 Madison’s Book Recommendation: The Molecule of More: How a Single Chemical in Your Brain Drives Love, Sex, and Creativity–and Will Determine the Fate of the Human Race by Daniel Z. Lieberman M.D. and Michael E. Long (Read Here!)